State Rep. Joe White, a longtime resident of District 40 and member of the South Carolina Freedom Caucus, wrote a letter to President Donald Trump asking the former president to stop trying to dictate the outcome of the state’s U.S. Senate race. White, who has served four years in the House, said South Carolinians should be trusted to make their own choice without presidential interference.
Respect for Voters, Not Endorsements
White praised many of Trump’s policies, including his stance on securing the border and confronting illegal immigration. He also noted Trump’s willingness to challenge an entrenched political establishment that, in White’s view, often tells ordinary citizens to “sit down and shut up.” However, White argued that the same spirit of independence should apply to the Senate contest.
“South Carolina can make this decision for ourselves,” White wrote. “If President Trump does come down, we have every right to respectfully tell him, ‘We appreciate you, Mr. President, but this one belongs to us!’”
Concern Over Outside Influence
Reports indicate Trump is considering traveling to South Carolina to campaign for Darline Graham, a longtime state employee who has never been elected to public office. White described Graham as a “poster child for the bureaucracy,” noting her three‑decade career in state government.
In contrast, White highlighted Republican U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, whose legislative record is publicly available for voters to review. “That’s how representative government is supposed to work,” White said, emphasizing the importance of transparent voting records over presidential endorsements.
State Sovereignty and Constitutional Principles
White reminded readers that South Carolina is a sovereign state, not a branch office of the White House. He argued that the U.S. Senate seat belongs to the people of South Carolina, not to any individual, including the president.
“We are free‑thinking, independent, and sometimes stubborn people,” White wrote. “We have a long history of insisting that we can make up our own minds.” He urged South Carolinians to evaluate candidates based on experience, character, and voting history rather than relying on outside influence.
Personal Background and Motivation
White, now 76, said he entered politics after a career in business, military service during the Vietnam era, and raising a family. He ran for office to push back against what he sees as a political system dominated by powerful lobbyists, financial interests, and entrenched bureaucracies.
“I ran for office because I was tired of sitting on the sidelines,” White explained. “I wanted to make a difference, even in small ways, and to remind our government it is of the people, by the people, and for the people.”
Call for Local Decision‑Making
White concluded by acknowledging Trump’s right to endorse any candidate but stressed that such endorsements should not override the judgment of South Carolina voters. He asked the president to respect the state’s autonomy and let the electorate decide who will represent them in the U.S. Senate.
“President Trump has made his choice. I have made mine. Other South Carolinians will make theirs. That’s America,” White wrote. “We don’t need anyone in Washington to tell us who should represent our state.”
Original reporting: FITSNews — read the source article.
